Scientific Name - Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. Linnaeus, in 1753, placed this species in the genus Morus. Later, naturalist Pierre Broussonet discovered that is clearly different from those of Morus.

Charles-Loius L’Héritier de Brutelle, a amateur botanist, estabilished a new genus for it, Broussonetia in honor of Pierre Broussonet.

Synonyms – Morus papyrifera, Papyrius papyriferus.

Common name(s) - paper mulberry, ai masi, aute, hiapo, mùrier à papier, wauke, moro papirifero, morera de papel, aka, kozo, hao chu galugu, malaing.

Origin and Distribution – native to Japan and Taiwan. In Europe was introduced in 1751, in England by Peter Collinson. Humid tropical, subhumid tropical, and temperate climates; 0-1500 m altitude.

Description – dioecious tree, deciduous, 12 m high, in culture does not exceed 4 m high; branches gray-brown, thick, stout, with short hairs. Bark grey-green, smooth when young, developing shallow furrows with age. Leaves distichous, cordate-ovate, 10-20 cm long, 7-15 cm wide, apex shortly acuminate, obtuse, rounded or cordate at base, rough serrate, often deeply 3-5-lobed, hairy above, more hairy beneath; stipules broadly lanceolate, acute at apex; petioles 2-10 cm long. Male inflorescences consisting of slender, cylindrical spikes, 4-8 cm long, axillary, solitary, with many flowers, pendulous; perianth 4-lobed, hairy; stamens 4. Female inflorescences capitates, globose, 1-2 cm diameter, many-flowered; style long filiform. Blooming in April-May. Drupes, 2 cm diameter, yellow, red-orange at maturity, the perianth and bracts persistent. Seed ovoid, 1,8-2,4 mm long

Growth rate – fast growing, in 5 years may reach 2-3 m in height.

Tolerance – drought and frost, temperatures down to about -10°c. Not tolerate shade and cold winters.

Requirements – prefers light and medium texture soil (sandy loams, loams, and sandy clay loams).

Propagation – suckers, stem cuttings, seeds. Transplanting suckers, 30-45 cm long in height. The stem cuttings are planted directly into the ground; should be kept moist by adding water once or twice a week. All leaves are removed from the cutting. It can regenerate rapidly, as it readily forms new stems from the rootstocks. By seeds, in spring or autumn in greenhouse, germinate after 1-3 months at 15 ˚C.

Pest and Diseases – Aecidium mori var. broussonetia, Dalpada smargdina, Dendryphiella broussonetiae, Eotetranychus broussonetiae, Mycosphaerella mori, Myxosporella miniata, Parum colligata, Phomopsus broussonetiae, Phyllactinia broussonetiae-kaempferi.

Cultivars - ‘Aurea’,  ‘Cucullata’, ‘Laciniata’, ‘Variegata’.

Medicinal Uses and other Uses – the fruits, root and bark have numerous medicinal uses; astringent, diuretic, laxative, stimulant and tonic. The fruit is also eaten by birds.

In areas where Broussonetia papyrifera can become invasive replace with Acer rubrum, Celtis occidentalis, Nyssa sylvatica, Sassafras

The phloem fiber of Broussonetia papyrifera is used in papermaking.

The idea of making paper from tree bark is attributed to Tshai Lun.

Bibliography

Beatrice H. Krauss – Plants in Hawaiian Medicine – Bess Press, 2001

Gil Nelson – The Shrubs and Woody Vines of Florida – Pineapple Press, 1996

James R. Cothran – Gardens and Historic Plants of the Antebellum – University of South Carolina Press, 2003

Laurence Hatch – Cultivars of Woody Plants – TCR Press, 2007

Peter Hanelt, Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant research – Mansfeld’s Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops – Springer, 2001